Traditional, Self, and Hybrid Publishing. Which One to Choose? Part 1

Book publishing can be an overwhelming process. There are so many different things to consider when deciding to publish and various options available when it comes to publishing your book. So how can you know which one is the right fit for you? Let’s look at the different ways available to publish your book.  

Traditional Publishing

Traditional publishing is the standard method of publishing your book. This is the way most established authors will publish their books. When an author has a book they want to publish they submit it to a traditional publishing company. The publisher then will review it and decide if they want to publish the book. Once they sign on, the authors will receive a payment for the publishing rights to the book and will receive a part of the proceeds of sales. The publisher is in control of aspects such as editing, marketing, promotion, and distribution of the book to booksellers. These publishers have the advantage of being an established bookseller and range from large corporations to small indie companies. They have knowledge and resources available to them them other publishers may not have.

Self Publishing

Thanks to the wide variety of sources online, self-publishing is more accessible than ever before. It allows authors to dictate exactly how their book is published. Self publishing allows for greater control over the final version of the book and the benefit of the proceeds from sales. However, the author takes on the responsibility of putting the book on the market themselves. This means that all the editing, marketing, promotion, and even distribution falls solely on the author. 

Hybrid Publishing

Hybrid publishing is a mix between traditional and self publishing. Both authors and publishers work together to publish a book on the market. This is a way authors can have more creative freedom while still getting the experience of having a team to help publish their book. Hybrid publishers will offer packages with varying involvement for things like marketing and promotion to distribution of the book to sellers. Authors will be more involved in the decision making process and most often get a higher percentage of proceeds from sales. Authors might have to meet certain standards, but will be met with less restrictions than with traditional publishers.  

How To Choose

The main difference between these methods are the risks and rewards taken by the author. With traditional publishing authors have more assurances but less control over the publishing process. Self publishing requires the author to take on the risks of publishing themselves, but the benefits may be worth it. Hybrid publishing lets the author take less risks than self publishing with some of the same benefits of experience that traditional publishing offers.

Read Part 2 of this article for some questions to consider when choosing a publishing method for your book.

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Has one publishing method worked out better than another for you? Leave a comment below telling us about your publishing experience!